Page 27 - Flaming Cauldron – Issue 64

ACC ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER

Discussion – Are we doing it
again? Hell yeah, next one planned
for two years’ time. Ray has set a
challenge, that being we all must
find at least one other member of the
3/78 Scarisbrick platoon by then and
hopefully we can get more to attend.
12 known 20 to find, surely it can’t be
that hard to find 20 blokes that are
62 years old or can it? Hopefully the
next one in two years will be easier to
organize with sorting the date, venue
and location. That nightmare is over to
After dinner the banter continued over drinks Glenn Wallace – good luck as you are
flying solo for the next one.
On arrival I was first to the restaurant had all parted company and headed off
Gentlemen it was an honour and a
and single handedly formed a Guard of to the four corners of the UK, all with
pleasure to meet you all again after so
Honour’ as the others arrived by taxi, another good memory to add to the
long, thank you and the best of health
taking our seats and the last to appear book of life. Good news was all arrived
to you all!
the charismatic WO1 Ray Donovan. home safely.
After all this time we couldn’t turn up
as a rag bag outfit. We were fortunate to
have a Sponsor for Polo Shirts and Corp Tribute to
Poppies, all looking uniformly smart in
our polo shirts, the shirts supplied by St Omer
Kev (thanks Kev). We all agreed they
looked excellent, great design and great by R J Nicol November 2024
fit as near Corp Colours as we could get.
For that we all thank you.
The usual handshakes and general
chit chat began with those that couldn’t
make it the night before.
It was noted that let’s say the years
have begun to show on a few, ok on all
of us, greyer with a varied level of health
issues and yes shape! Most instantly t. Omer stood as a temple grand, Will it become an icon grand?
recognizable, some had the second SA tower of learning, skill at hand. Time will tell, across the land.
glance. For life it trained, chefs for the future, But the spirit of St. Omer, clear and bright,
Before we had ordered the food it In this place of knowledge, the culinary Lives on in chefs who take to flight.
started, the reminiscing, micky taking culture. As they cook and stir, with passion and pride,
and general chaos, much so as the waiter Fourteen floors of kitchens and rooms, The legacy of St. Omer still abides.
came back twice to take the orders for Classrooms buzzing with future blooms. In every dish, every plate that’s set,
food. I think all there took abuse in one A lecture theatre, vast and wide, The teachings of St. Omer we will not forget.
way or another through the night. Where knowledge flowed like a rising tide. From sauces simmering to pastries fine,
As you can see the table was filled
They trained the young, just sixteen, In every recipe, you can see the line.
with food, bit of a nightmare for the Starting out with hopes and dreams. Drawn from that tower, so stately and bright,
waiter as many had ordered different
To the advanced, the skilled elite, A beacon of learning, day and night.
items with different level of spice to suit In this gleaming tower, they’d all meet. The halls echoed with laughter and toil,
each pallet.
The white tower gleamed, seen from afar, Chefs in training, loyal to the soil.
Ray decided in true British tradition The first sight seen from the train car. Their dedication, their craft honed well,
of a curry it had to be with chips. No
You’d know you were back in Aldershot, In kitchens where countless stories dwell.
objection from any of us so it was half Where the seeds of talent were truly sought.
chips half rice in the middle of the Each lesson learned, each skill imbued,
The home of Army Chefs, proud and true, A lifetime of culinary fortitude.
table. I think we are allowed back to the
Their legacy grew, their prowess too. Though the tower stands no more,
restaurant after the evening’s happiness.
With time marching on, changes came, Its memories live on, an endless lore.
After food over to a bar to carry on the
A cap badge change, a new game. So here’s to St. Omer, forever famed,
happiness, banter (polite word used) and
The tower now gone, consigned to past, In the hearts of chefs, its legacy named.
reminiscing.
But its spirit and lessons ever last. With knives in hand and aprons tight,
The Sunday was a group meet up
Now a Joint Service School stands tall, We honor St. Omer with every bite.
for breakfast, a few couldn’t make it as
To train new chefs, to heed the call.
time to travel home etc. By 11.30ish we
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